For anyone familiar, are Axioms much brighter than Aperion. I had decided on Aperion 6T, 5C across the front,

but Axiom M60 and VP150 are a couple hundred dollars cheaper, and Axiom are generally very well reviewed.

Policy on shipping/return etc. is about the same too, and they are Cdn (where I am).

Most of the Axiom reviews have been raves, but one did mention fatigue. I don't like a bright/forward sound (just a full/clear one). My HT room is 11 x16 and audio bright (no curtains, hardwood, no large openings).

There is one poster here that had both in their home at the same time, but he didn't like either of them and sent the lot back.

I never heard the Aperions and obviously, as an Axiom owner, I don't find them fatiguing or else I would have returned them. I would consider Axiom speaker to be forward as forwardness is often related to detailed mids but not harsh or irritating. I have heard both M60s and M80s and the M80s is the most "forward" of the 2.My room is similar to yours, 20x11ft, hardwood, no curtains. At very high volumes, the sound starts to become "blurry", not from the brightness but from the reflections in the room, so the more acoustically friendly your room would be, the better they would sound but this is true for any accurate speaker IMO. For example, my M80s sounded better when I had carpet, still sounds good with a thick pile rug but it becomes horrible with hardwood and an empty room because of the echo.You can do a few things1) go to the "hearing things" forum and see if you can audition Axiom speakers near you.2) Where do you live in Canada? If in the GTA, you could always go to the Axiom facility, listen there and get a factory tour.3) You could order them, listen at your place and return them if you don't like them.

A few points of similarity - you will get excellent service from both companies, and chances are be very happy with the products either way. That being said, having recently become an Axiom owner (official story and review posts in the coming days) I would strongly recommend Axiom. Their approach to speaker design and evaluation strikes me as being more scientifically based than Aperion (no offense to them), they have much greater value when you compare similar models (even if you concede that the speakers are identical in sound quality - the cost alone wins the day), and they have a much longer pedigree as well (which may or may not make a difference to you). In terms of sound quality, others will come and comment on the "brightness" or "harshness" critiques, but I will simply say the sound is beautiful and I love it.

Although I haven’t heard Aperion this review helped influence me toward Axiom because I found that other comments in general fell in line with what this reviewer was saying and from experience with the M2, M22 and M80 can say that the Axiom design philosophy cares through all three of these speakers.

I own M60's and like them very much. I do not consider them "bright". They are detailed and revealing.

I have heard the Aperion Intimus 6T (but not in my home). I thought they sounded really good. I think the midrange clarity on the Axioms is a little better.

The Axiom vinyl is VERY good, but the real wood veneer finish on the stock Aperion's is somewhat nicer, to me. However, I do really like the Axiom cabinet shape rather than the big rectangle.

I think you would probably be very happy with either. One factor that was meaningful to me is that Axiom's final assembly point is in North America rather than overseas. I like to support American/Canadian jobs with my purchases wherever I can.